Atheist Nexus2017-08-18T05:47:07ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545http://api.ning.com:80/files/It3-odgnrfS9JIZXiIieuso-MafWFMUxJbtJ47ZZVaiLYgbBq*T9wjKWVzv*i*oRHeT4a6pGAqPa8xagVZw8bNdv7wl3mkV2/1029350683.jpeg?xgip=0%3A16%3A718%3A718%3B%3B&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://atheistnexus.org/group/pennsylvaniaatheists/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=193rblyqo9epl&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHeads Up Pennsylvanianstag:atheistnexus.org,2017-02-24:2182797:Topic:27374922017-02-24T19:18:06.373ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545
<p>Bad things are afoot in PA. It's time to get informed and contact our PA senators and representatives. Let's share here, the way national politics cooperation has begun in <a href="http://atheistnexus.org/group/writing-to-congress" target="_self">Writing to Congress</a>.</p>
<p>I find <a href="http://www.politifact.com/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">Politifact Pennsylvania</a> useful.…</p>
<p></p>
<p>Bad things are afoot in PA. It's time to get informed and contact our PA senators and representatives. Let's share here, the way national politics cooperation has begun in <a href="http://atheistnexus.org/group/writing-to-congress" target="_self">Writing to Congress</a>.</p>
<p>I find <a href="http://www.politifact.com/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">Politifact Pennsylvania</a> useful.</p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/ENQTjlbUh09rDyZvPVK4Qby28e9e1f4-6R0KYoUz-FCzhje9hNMwPtdKhpY5BOsBQ1gwkb1MtsC43zzidWbDvd1b3B5B1-kB/mostlyfalse.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/ENQTjlbUh09rDyZvPVK4Qby28e9e1f4-6R0KYoUz-FCzhje9hNMwPtdKhpY5BOsBQ1gwkb1MtsC43zzidWbDvd1b3B5B1-kB/mostlyfalse.jpg" width="390" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p> Let me know if you find a state level resource to assist activism. I haven't located a progressive daily guide to PA politics. I've had to depend on email alerts and looking up bills pending.</p> PA water contamination hiddentag:atheistnexus.org,2016-02-07:2182797:Topic:26685922016-02-07T18:17:53.277ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545
<p><a href="http://ecowatch.com/2016/02/04/pa-fracking-water-contamination/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Fracking Water Contamination Much Higher Than Reported</a></p>
<p>It's called regulatory capture when a government agency tasked with protecting us secretly does the opposite. Just hide complaints instead of recording them, and change the way you count wells, and voilà - water contamination "disappears". A 44% contamination rate turns into 3%.</p>
<blockquote><p><span class="s1">... in…</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://ecowatch.com/2016/02/04/pa-fracking-water-contamination/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Fracking Water Contamination Much Higher Than Reported</a></p>
<p>It's called regulatory capture when a government agency tasked with protecting us secretly does the opposite. Just hide complaints instead of recording them, and change the way you count wells, and voilà - water contamination "disappears". A 44% contamination rate turns into 3%.</p>
<blockquote><p><span class="s1">... in Pennsylvania,...: mismanaged record-keeping and reporting by the Department of the Environment (DEP). Based on 2,309 previously unreported fracking complaints unearthed by the non-profit <a href="http://publicherald.org/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">Public Herald</span></a>, the public can now peek into 1,275 fracking water complaints from 17 of 40 fracking counties. However, Pennsylvania’s official tally of water contamination is only <a href="http://files.dep.state.pa.us/OilGas/BOGM/BOGMPortalFiles/OilGasReports/Determination_Letters/Regional_Determination_Letters.pdf" target="_blank">271</a> for all 40 counties.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Contrary to the <a href="http://ecowatch.com/?s=epa+fracking+study">EPA fracking study’s conclusion</a>, the prevalence of drinking water contamination appears to be much higher than previously reported.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><a target="_blank" href="http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/fraclingwater_750.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/fraclingwater_750.jpg?width=450" width="450"/></a></span></p>
<blockquote>Pennsylvania’s DEP regulates the oil and gas industry and is also the “911 dispatch center” for fracking complaints. DEP’s role is to register citizen fracking complaints, research complaints and conduct water tests if needed.</blockquote>
<blockquote><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Buried in Folders: 1,275 Water Complaints</b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Prior to Public Herald’s <a href="http://publicfiles.org/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">fracking complaints database</span></a> (an open source project named #fileroom) which was launched in September</span> <span class="s1">2015, the public had little access to Pennsylvania’s fracking water complaints. What was known is that the DEP fracking complaint system was horrendous.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">In May 2014, Pennsylvania’s Auditor General reviewed DEP complaint files and reported eight areas of mishandling with “sloppy record keeping” topping the list. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">When asked if the public’s health was being threatened from fracking water contamination, Pennsylvania’s Auditor General <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/us/pennsylvanias-auditor-general-faults-oversight-of-natural-gas-industry.html" target="_blank"><span class="s2">publicly commented</span></a>, “we can’t say one way or the other because their [DEP] record keeping is so poor.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1">The fracking complaints were stored in filing cabinets and most cases weren’t entered into any formal central tracking system.</span></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1"><a target="_blank" href="http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/waterfilespa_750.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/waterfilespa_750.jpg?width=450" width="450"/></a></span></span></p>
<blockquote><b>Seventeen (or 44 percent) Water Contamination Rate—Depending on How You Look at It</b></blockquote>
<blockquote><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1">If you’re a homeowner or an elected official, assessing the scale of water complaints, comparing to the number of well pad locations is more relevant than comparing to the number of wells drilled. Using the higher figure of wells drilled, which most reporting does, minimizes the scale of impact to people living near concentrated fracking operations.</span> <b><span class="s1"><br/></span></b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">To understand how this changes the story, if DEP’s official tally of <span class="s2"><a href="http://files.dep.state.pa.us/OilGas/BOGM/BOGMPortalFiles/OilGasReports/Determination_Letters/Regional_Determination_Letters.pdf" target="_blank">271</a> </span>confirmed water contaminations is compared to <a href="http://www.depreportingservices.state.pa.us/ReportServer/Pages/ReportViewer.aspx?/Oil_Gas/Well_Pads" target="_blank"><span class="s2">9,632</span></a> fracking wells drilled since 2000, that’s a three percent water contamination rate. That figure seems pretty low and supports the EPA’s conclusion that fracking water contamination isn’t widespread.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1">But if you dig into Public Herald’s <a href="http://www.publicfiles.org/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">#fileroom</span></a> database, as the chart above illustrates, 1,275 water complaints were filed in 17 counties with only 2,923* fracking well pads. Those well pads hosted 7,627 gas wells.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That means that for about every two fracking well pads, one homeowner called in a water complaint, instead of one for every seven wells drilled. That’s a 44 percent fracking water complaint rate suggesting that water well issues are pervasive. Even if the water complaints are compared to the number of wells drilled in these 17 counties, it’s a 17 percent water complaint rate.</span></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1">Aren't you glad PA has a Republican governor, just like Michigan?</span></span></p>
<p class="p1"></p> PA water contamination hiddentag:atheistnexus.org,2016-02-07:2182797:Topic:26685032016-02-07T18:17:31.343ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545
<p><a href="http://ecowatch.com/2016/02/04/pa-fracking-water-contamination/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Fracking Water Contamination Much Higher Than Reported</a></p>
<p>It's called regulatory capture when a government agency tasked with protecting us secretly does the opposite. Just hide complaints instead of recording them, and change the way you count wells, and voilà - water contamination "disappears". A 44% contamination rate turns into 3%.</p>
<blockquote><p><span class="s1">... in…</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://ecowatch.com/2016/02/04/pa-fracking-water-contamination/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Fracking Water Contamination Much Higher Than Reported</a></p>
<p>It's called regulatory capture when a government agency tasked with protecting us secretly does the opposite. Just hide complaints instead of recording them, and change the way you count wells, and voilà - water contamination "disappears". A 44% contamination rate turns into 3%.</p>
<blockquote><p><span class="s1">... in Pennsylvania,...: mismanaged record-keeping and reporting by the Department of the Environment (DEP). Based on 2,309 previously unreported fracking complaints unearthed by the non-profit <a href="http://publicherald.org/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">Public Herald</span></a>, the public can now peek into 1,275 fracking water complaints from 17 of 40 fracking counties. However, Pennsylvania’s official tally of water contamination is only <a href="http://files.dep.state.pa.us/OilGas/BOGM/BOGMPortalFiles/OilGasReports/Determination_Letters/Regional_Determination_Letters.pdf" target="_blank">271</a> for all 40 counties.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Contrary to the <a href="http://ecowatch.com/?s=epa+fracking+study">EPA fracking study’s conclusion</a>, the prevalence of drinking water contamination appears to be much higher than previously reported.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><a target="_blank" href="http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/fraclingwater_750.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/fraclingwater_750.jpg?width=450" width="450"/></a></span></p>
<blockquote>Pennsylvania’s DEP regulates the oil and gas industry and is also the “911 dispatch center” for fracking complaints. DEP’s role is to register citizen fracking complaints, research complaints and conduct water tests if needed.</blockquote>
<blockquote><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Buried in Folders: 1,275 Water Complaints</b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Prior to Public Herald’s <a href="http://publicfiles.org/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">fracking complaints database</span></a> (an open source project named #fileroom) which was launched in September</span> <span class="s1">2015, the public had little access to Pennsylvania’s fracking water complaints. What was known is that the DEP fracking complaint system was horrendous.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">In May 2014, Pennsylvania’s Auditor General reviewed DEP complaint files and reported eight areas of mishandling with “sloppy record keeping” topping the list. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">When asked if the public’s health was being threatened from fracking water contamination, Pennsylvania’s Auditor General <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/us/pennsylvanias-auditor-general-faults-oversight-of-natural-gas-industry.html" target="_blank"><span class="s2">publicly commented</span></a>, “we can’t say one way or the other because their [DEP] record keeping is so poor.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1">The fracking complaints were stored in filing cabinets and most cases weren’t entered into any formal central tracking system.</span></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1"><a target="_blank" href="http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/waterfilespa_750.jpg"><img class="align-center" src="http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/waterfilespa_750.jpg?width=450" width="450"/></a></span></span></p>
<blockquote><b>Seventeen (or 44 percent) Water Contamination Rate—Depending on How You Look at It</b></blockquote>
<blockquote><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1">If you’re a homeowner or an elected official, assessing the scale of water complaints, comparing to the number of well pad locations is more relevant than comparing to the number of wells drilled. Using the higher figure of wells drilled, which most reporting does, minimizes the scale of impact to people living near concentrated fracking operations.</span> <b><span class="s1"><br/></span></b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">To understand how this changes the story, if DEP’s official tally of <span class="s2"><a href="http://files.dep.state.pa.us/OilGas/BOGM/BOGMPortalFiles/OilGasReports/Determination_Letters/Regional_Determination_Letters.pdf" target="_blank">271</a> </span>confirmed water contaminations is compared to <a href="http://www.depreportingservices.state.pa.us/ReportServer/Pages/ReportViewer.aspx?/Oil_Gas/Well_Pads" target="_blank"><span class="s2">9,632</span></a> fracking wells drilled since 2000, that’s a three percent water contamination rate. That figure seems pretty low and supports the EPA’s conclusion that fracking water contamination isn’t widespread.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1">But if you dig into Public Herald’s <a href="http://www.publicfiles.org/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">#fileroom</span></a> database, as the chart above illustrates, 1,275 water complaints were filed in 17 counties with only 2,923* fracking well pads. Those well pads hosted 7,627 gas wells.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That means that for about every two fracking well pads, one homeowner called in a water complaint, instead of one for every seven wells drilled. That’s a 44 percent fracking water complaint rate suggesting that water well issues are pervasive. Even if the water complaints are compared to the number of wells drilled in these 17 counties, it’s a 17 percent water complaint rate.</span></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1">Aren't you glad PA has a Republican governor, just like Michigan?</span></span></p>
<p class="p1"></p> Lead Poisoning in PAtag:atheistnexus.org,2016-02-03:2182797:Topic:26676982016-02-03T21:42:52.805ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545
<p>Are you glad you don't live in Flint, reading about their water crisis? Actually PA children have <em>far</em> higher leadl evels.</p>
<blockquote><p>… the rate of lead exposure in Pennsylvania is incredibly alarming. <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Nearly 10 percent</span> <span style="color: #ff0000;">of</span></strong> the more than 140,000 <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">kids tested had</span></strong> levels of 5 or more micrograms per deciliter of lead in the blood (5…</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Are you glad you don't live in Flint, reading about their water crisis? Actually PA children have <em>far</em> higher leadl evels.</p>
<blockquote><p>… the rate of lead exposure in Pennsylvania is incredibly alarming. <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Nearly 10 percent</span> <span style="color: #ff0000;">of</span></strong> the more than 140,000 <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">kids tested had</span></strong> levels of 5 or more micrograms per deciliter of lead in the blood (5 µg/dL) — this is the threshold the government uses to identify children with <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">dangerously elevated blood lead levels</span></strong>. One percent tested positive for blood lead levels greater than 10 µg/dL.</p>
<p>Compare that to Flint, where state data shows the rate of lead exposure for 5 µg/dL from 2014 to 2015 as <a href="http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/nancy-kaffer/2015/09/26/state-data-flint-lead/72820798/">3.21 percent</a>. (Flint started pumping water from the Flint River in April 2014). Other researchers have found that specific areas of the city have exposure rates as high as <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/282806501/Pediatric-Lead-Exposure-Flint-Water-Results">6.3 percent</a>. That's alarming, but still a lower rate than 18 of the 20 cities in Pennsylvania. [emphasis mine]</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/eBuIpI9BCaHLa4k3vTSL2L1VraoXUAJKa3k5XIOSIVDquRE0vq2v-a7TAhupDaqOS2puoPwD5zilTeCl1vB7IhtaOTsMThiW/PAlead.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/eBuIpI9BCaHLa4k3vTSL2L1VraoXUAJKa3k5XIOSIVDquRE0vq2v-a7TAhupDaqOS2puoPwD5zilTeCl1vB7IhtaOTsMThiW/PAlead.jpg?width=450" width="450"/></a></p>
<blockquote><p><b>There are 17 cities in Pennsylvania where 10 percent of children tested positive for lead exposure</b></p>
<p>The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that the primary source for childhood lead poisoning in Pennsylvania is exposure to aging, deteriorating lead-based paint (chips and dust).</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/2/3/10904120/lead-exposure-flint-pennsylvania" target="_blank">18 cities in Pennsylvania</a> <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/2/3/10904120/lead-exposure-flint-pennsylvania" target="_blank">reported higher levels of lead exposure than Flint</a></p>
<p>Pennsylvanians often get lead from our water too.My home just north of Philly has lead solder in the plumbing. We use an Aquathin reverse osmosis unit to remove lead from our drinking and cooking water.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.medicaldaily.com/water-safety-flint-michigan-lead-poisoning-370968" target="_blank">Not Just Flint: Lead May Affect Millions Of Americans' Drinking Water, Thanks To Testers Cutting Corners</a></p>
<blockquote><p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/22/water-lead-content-tests-us-authorities-distorting-flint-crisis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The</em> <em>Guardian</em></a> has reportedly come across a set of documents detailing questionable <a href="http://www.medicaldaily.com/10-us-beaches-fail-water-safety-test-due-heavy-pollution-and-raw-sewage-290242">water testing practices</a> in major cities like Detroit and Philadelphia, as well as the state of Rhode Island. Water tests are being manipulated in “every major U.S. city east of the Mississippi,” an anonymous source intimately familiar with lead and copper regulations told <em>The</em> <em>Guardian</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/health/20160128_Lead_contamination_debate_flows_into_Phila_.html" target="_blank">Flint's lead contamination debate flows into Phila.</a></p>
<div class="copy-paste-block"><blockquote><p>Public health advocates this week said Philadelphia and other cities were failing to follow federal guidelines as they monitor lead levels at high-risk homes.</p>
<p>Up to 50,000 homes in Philadelphia are connected to city water mains by lead pipes, according to city officials.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/28/philadelphia-water-testing-crisis-flint-health-risk" target="_blank">Philadelphia's water-testing procedures are ‘worse than Flint’ – expert</a></p>
<blockquote><p>Lambrinidou said Philadelphia has spent “20 years minimizing lead levels in tests”.</p>
<p>“Philadelphia is arguably worse than Flint in the testing of drinking water because they use pre-flushing, the removal of the aerator and the slow flow of water into bottles, which can also distort the result,”...</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://cbsphilly.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/tap-project-john-ostapkovich1.jpg?w=640&amp;h=360&amp;crop=1"><img class="align-center" src="https://cbsphilly.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/tap-project-john-ostapkovich1.jpg?w=640&amp;h=360&amp;crop=1&amp;width=350" width="350"/></a><a href="http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/03/19/national-tap-water-project-launches-in-philadelphia/" target="_blank">image source</a></p>
<p></p>
</div> 2012 the "Year of the Bible" in Pennsylvania? Passed unanimously in House; our state senators need to hear from us.tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-02-01:2182797:Topic:18435912012-02-01T06:09:13.697ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545
<p><em><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/01/28/its-the-year-of-the-bible-in-pennsylvania/" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/bn4LKANE44CJyIDly2yPu99K3*kQIodpim5e7cSooGFIt4xNUvERRxtkIFBRr*lX3E*bmzfSS2V4UE1uNh-i4RuNpx2oZLpb/smcopyYearoftheBible.jpg" width="310"></img></a> Not a single state representative</em> opposed the "noncontroversial" resolution <a href="http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&amp;sessYr=2011&amp;sessInd=0&amp;billBody=H&amp;billTyp=R&amp;billNbr=0535&amp;pn=2983" target="_blank">H.R. 535</a>, passed last week …</p>
<p><em><a target="_blank" href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/01/28/its-the-year-of-the-bible-in-pennsylvania/"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/bn4LKANE44CJyIDly2yPu99K3*kQIodpim5e7cSooGFIt4xNUvERRxtkIFBRr*lX3E*bmzfSS2V4UE1uNh-i4RuNpx2oZLpb/smcopyYearoftheBible.jpg" width="310"/></a>Not a single state representative</em> opposed the "noncontroversial" resolution <a href="http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&amp;sessYr=2011&amp;sessInd=0&amp;billBody=H&amp;billTyp=R&amp;billNbr=0535&amp;pn=2983" target="_blank">H.R. 535</a>, passed last week <a href="http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/RC/Public/rc_view_action2.cfm?sess_yr=2011&amp;sess_ind=0&amp;rc_body=H&amp;rc_nbr=1089" target="_blank">193-0</a> by all reps present. Flouting both the U.S. and Pennsylvania constitutions, it opens with</p>
<blockquote><p>WHEREAS, <strong>The Bible, the word of God</strong>, has made a unique contribution in shaping the United States as a distinctive and blessed nation and people;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>and after presenting more distorted pseudo-history, goes on to declare</p>
<blockquote><p><em>That the House of Representatives declare 2012 as the “Year of the Bible” in Pennsylvania in recognition of both the formative influence of the Bible on our Commonwealth and nation and <strong>our national need to study and apply the teachings of the holy scriptures</strong>.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The sponsor, Rick Saccone, explained his rationale in overtly religious terms:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>....House Resolution 535 serves as a reminder that we must look to our faith in God and the Holy Scripture to provide us with the strength, wisdom and courage to conquer these great trials....</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://ffrf.org/uploads/legal/PAYearofthebible.pdf" target="_blank">The scathing rebuke</a> FFRF co-presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor wrote to the House leaders is worth reading in full, with its rebuttals of the resolution's premises.</p>
<blockquote><p>The Pennsylvania Assembly has no business telling citizens which god to recognize, which so-called holy book to "study," much less directing citizens to "apply its teachings."<br/>...[<a href="http://ffrf.org/uploads/legal/PAYearofthebible.pdf" target="_blank">two pages snipped</a>]...<br/>The Pennsylvania Senate must have the enlightened sense to bury this vacuous, posturing, and pandering resolution.<br/>Here is our message to electioneering politicians in Pennsylvania and everywhere: The economy is in shambles, many Americans are jobless and homeless. Quit with the gratuitous religion. Get off your knees and get to work!</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When I called my state senator's office to urge that this resolution be killed, they said I was the first to call about it!</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/01/28/its-the-year-of-the-bible-in-pennsylvania/" target="_blank">Read more at <em>Friendly Atheist</em></a> <span style="color: #808080;" class="font-size-1">(where the photo on top came from)</span></li>
<li>Look up your state representative and state senator at <a href="http://www.votesmart.org/" target="_blank">Project Vote Smart</a>, or at Pennsylvania's <a href="http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/index.cfm" target="_blank">Find Your Legislator</a> page.</li>
</ul>
<p>Please let us know how your state legislators react to your calls or emails. Thanks!</p>
<p></p> Chambersburg City Council removes Nativity Display over Atheist Requesttag:atheistnexus.org,2009-11-30:2182797:Topic:6256802009-11-30T00:14:27.982ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545
In the news over the past week: The Pennsylvania town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambersburg,_Pennsylvania" target="_blank">Chambersburg</a> has for years had a traditional Nativity scene displayed in its Memorial Square, which is public property. <br></br>
<br></br>
A member of <a href="http://www.panonbelievers.org/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Nonbelievers</a> (a chapter of American Atheists), sent a letter to City Council requesting that a simple sign be placed on the square…
In the news over the past week: The Pennsylvania town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambersburg,_Pennsylvania" target="_blank">Chambersburg</a> has for years had a traditional Nativity scene displayed in its Memorial Square, which is public property. <br/>
<br/>
A member of <a href="http://www.panonbelievers.org/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Nonbelievers</a> (a chapter of American Atheists), sent a letter to City Council requesting that a simple sign be placed on the square honoring Atheist Veterans. <br/>
<br/>
The council's response was to ban all non-secular displays, rather than allow this one. Their concern was that any extremist group could then demand to have a display posted on public property.<br/>
<br/>
Unsurprisingly, there were angry responses from many Christians, some of whom aimed their vitriol at atheists in general, and at Carl Silverman, the individual who requested the sign.<br/>
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On Saturday there was a protest to demand restoration of the Nativity, which was attended by around 100 people according to estimates.<br />
<hr/><b>Links</b><br/> <u>PA Nonbelievers Blog:</u><br/> <br/>
<a href="http://www.panonbelievers.org/2009/11/24/chambersburg-borough-council-decides-nativity-scene-must-be-removed-from-memorial-square-fountain-area/" target="_blank">Chambersburg Borough Council decides nativity scene must be removed from Memorial Square fountain area</a><br/>
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<a href="http://www.panonbelievers.org/2009/11/26/letter-from-chambersburg-area-atheist-veteran/" target="_blank">Letter from Chambersburg Area Atheist Veteran</a><br/>
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<u>News Outlets:</u><br/>
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<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/11/less_than_100_march_on_chamber.html" target="_blank">Group marches on Chambersburg's public square to restore Nativity scene banned by borough council</a><br/>
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<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/11/chambersburg_bans_town-square.html" target="_blank">Chambersburg bans town-square displays over non-Christian request</a><br/>
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<u>Americans United:</u><br/>
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<a href="http://blog.au.org/2009/11/27/christmas-clash-religious-right-exploits-battles-over-symbols-and-songs/" target="_blank">Christmas Clash: Religious Right Exploits Battles Over Symbols And Songs</a><br/>
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<br/> Schuylkill County...anyone interested in having real life get-togethers?tag:atheistnexus.org,2008-09-23:2182797:Topic:1143542008-09-23T08:17:36.878ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545
I live in Schuylkill county and want to know if anybody is interested in meeting once a month or so for discussion, hanging out, or just socializing with fellow free thinkers. We could meet at a bar or restaurant, have a few drinks (or not), eat a meal, and talk. If there is enough interest we could aim towards eventually starting a local group (goals, if any, to be defined later)
I live in Schuylkill county and want to know if anybody is interested in meeting once a month or so for discussion, hanging out, or just socializing with fellow free thinkers. We could meet at a bar or restaurant, have a few drinks (or not), eat a meal, and talk. If there is enough interest we could aim towards eventually starting a local group (goals, if any, to be defined later) Where in PA are you?tag:atheistnexus.org,2008-07-18:2182797:Topic:404542008-07-18T23:59:54.389ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545
Let's try this for conversation. East, West, North, South? Smack in the middle, off to the left little? Where <i>are</i> you?
Let's try this for conversation. East, West, North, South? Smack in the middle, off to the left little? Where <i>are</i> you? Pennsylvania Atheiststag:atheistnexus.org,2008-07-09:2182797:Topic:127222008-07-09T21:21:56.982ZAva Wilsonhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AvaWilson545
There's two groups for Philly and one group for Pittsburgh, but nothing for the rest of the state. It's a pretty big state, really. And I don't know if anyone's noticed, but gas is awfully pricey nowadays and the option of driving three plus hours to either of these cities (don't get me wrong, Pitt, I <i>do</i> love you...and Philly, sorry but I've never been) is not really an option at all. Here's a little group to help us find each other, hopefully a little closer, and maybe folks can go grab…
There's two groups for Philly and one group for Pittsburgh, but nothing for the rest of the state. It's a pretty big state, really. And I don't know if anyone's noticed, but gas is awfully pricey nowadays and the option of driving three plus hours to either of these cities (don't get me wrong, Pitt, I <i>do</i> love you...and Philly, sorry but I've never been) is not really an option at all. Here's a little group to help us find each other, hopefully a little closer, and maybe folks can go grab beers (or what have you).<br />
<br />
So...who are ya? Where are ya? Whaddayado? Either put it here or feel free to start your very own thread. :)